Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

[Valandil]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

(05/10/2016 14:08)iMarkeh Wrote:  Please can I have a list of routes that Chester depot operates and some rough passenger figures. I am meeting the depot manager in two weeks time with some ideas and I am trying to get as many as I can. I have ideas for the 10A and a new potential route. Also can I have details of any contracts meaning Arriva cant operate in an area. If you have any suggestions, do let me know and I will try to pass them on. Thanks

Do your ideas for the 10A involve scaling it back? Lol ...
The Connah's Quay routes seem to have so much resource thrown at them (though I don't have data regarding this, so maybe it's actually justifiable even though it looks to me like it's wasted).

[iMarkeh]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot
It isnt to scale it back. It is to make it a bit more express like not in Garden City or Bagillt. But it does serve Queensferry Asda and Greyhound Park in Chester.

[Valandil]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

(05/10/2016 16:57)iMarkeh Wrote:  It isnt to scale it back. It is to make it a bit more express like not in Garden City or Bagillt. But it does serve Queensferry Asda and Greyhound Park in Chester.

There is a lot of layover on the 10(A) so 1 vehicle could probably be saved if journey times are reduced enough.

[iMarkeh]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot
It is the same journey time. Sorry. Is the layover in Holywell by any chance as it doesnt seem too much layover. Few mins each side. Dont forget they do interwork in Chester if that is what you mean.

[Conbus]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

(05/10/2016 14:08)iMarkeh Wrote:  Please can I have a list of routes that Chester depot operates and some rough passenger figures. I am meeting the depot manager in two weeks time with some ideas and I am trying to get as many as I can. I have ideas for the 10A and a new potential route. Also can I have details of any contracts meaning Arriva cant operate in an area. If you have any suggestions, do let me know and I will try to pass them on. Thanks

10A Cut back journey so only operates as far as Flint ( Flint to Holywell part withdrawn )
X4 More journeys in morning

10A Option 2 - Completely revamp the 10 group of services:

10 Chester - Connahs Quay every 20 minutes
10A Chester - Flint every 20 minutes
X10 Connahs Quay - cheshire oaks
via chester every 60 minutes

[DK09 GXY]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

(05/10/2016 14:08)iMarkeh Wrote:  Please can I have a list of routes that Chester depot operates and some rough passenger figures. I am meeting the depot manager in two weeks time with some ideas and I am trying to get as many as I can. I have ideas for the 10A and a new potential route. Also can I have details of any contracts meaning Arriva cant operate in an area. If you have any suggestions, do let me know and I will try to pass them on. Thanks

List of routes -
1/1A Blacon circulars
15/15A Chester - Saughall
DB4 Deeside Industrial Park
10/12 Chester - CQ
10A Chester-Holywell
3/3A/3B/4/4A/4S/X4 Chester - Mold
DB1 Chester - Mold
DB2 Chester - Saltney Ferry
82 Chester - Northwich (operated jointly with Winsford depot)

Ideas-
1) DECKERS ON 3/4/X4
I've used these routes many times and they get quite busy, deckers would be a great fit for the routes. The spare sapphire is often on X4 but I think extra deckers on the other routes would be perfect, even better if they are Sapphire standard (but normal is still good). Many people on the ABW Facebook page as well as people I've spoke to also agree this is a good idea.

2) Refurbishment of existing buses to include leather seats cream poles and WiFi like Bangor's Pulsars.

3) cancel the 10A?
This may be an unpopular opinion but I don't think that the 10A is really necessary due to the 11 and Townlynx T1 there. The extra buses could be used to increase the frequency on the 10 or on the aforementioned Mold routes. Blacon Pointers could probably benefit from deckers too, they seem busy whenever I see them.

4) not an idea per se but why were 2722 and 2724 withdrawn? They are good buses, better than 2711 and most Pulsars at Chester, less rattles (than the Pulsars) and not way too slow (2711)

P.s. not sure if this is still true but I remember reading at one point on the Birkenhead thread that Arriva were not allowed (other than QBP routes) to operate in Cheshire Oaks, again not sure if this is still the case or not

[YN05 WKE]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

(06/10/2016 09:42)DK09 GXY Wrote:  List of routes -
1/1A Blacon circulars
15/15A Chester - Saughall
DB4 Deeside Industrial Park
10/12 Chester - CQ
10A Chester-Holywell
3/4/X4 Chester - Mold
DB1 Chester - Mold
DB2 Chester - Saltney Ferry

Ideas-
1) DECKERS ON 3/4/X4
I've used these routes many times and they get quite busy, deckers would be a great fit for the routes. The spare sapphire is often on X4 but I think extra deckers on the other routes would be perfect, even better if they are Sapphire standard (but normal is still good). Many people on the ABW Facebook page as well as people I've spoke to also agree this is a good idea.

2) Refurbishment of existing buses to include leather seats cream poles and WiFi like Bangor's Pulsars.

3) cancel the 10A?
This may be an unpopular opinion but I don't think that the 10A is really necessary due to the 11 and Townlynx T1 there. The extra buses could be used to increase the frequency on the 10 or on the aforementioned Mold routes. Blacon Pointers could probably benefit from deckers too, they seem busy whenever I see them.

4) not an idea per se but why were 2722 and 2724 withdrawn? They are good buses, better than 2711 and most Pulsars at Chester, less rattles (than the Pulsars) and not way too slow (2711)

P.s. not sure if this is still true but I remember reading at one point on the Birkenhead thread that Arriva were not allowed (other than QBP routes) to operate in Cheshire Oaks, again not sure if this is still the case or not

You missed 82 & 3A/3B & 4S from above list

[Valandil]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

(05/10/2016 20:55)iMarkeh Wrote:  It is the same journey time. Sorry. Is the layover in Holywell by any chance as it doesnt seem too much layover. Few mins each side. Dont forget they do interwork in Chester if that is what you mean.

There is 8 mins at Holywell, but I was thinking of the Chester end, where as things stand there appear to be 15 minutes -- e.g. the 10 in at 08 minutes past the hour would depart on a 10A at 23 minutes past the hour, and the 10A in at 23 minutes past the hour would depart on a 10 at 38 minutes past the hour.

[iMarkeh]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot
It has been that way for ages. They regularly get caught up so it is kind of catch up time. It can be done in the timetable times so rather than stop start because drivers are early, it is easier to just put layover time at the end. Arriva always have 1 bus in the stand at Chester. It has been that way since the Saph started.

[Valandil]

RE: Arriva Buses Wales - Chester Depot

(06/10/2016 18:08)iMarkeh Wrote:  It has been that way for ages. They regularly get caught up so it is kind of catch up time. It can be done in the timetable times so rather than stop start because drivers are early, it is easier to just put layover time at the end. Arriva always have 1 bus in the stand at Chester. It has been that way since the Saph started.

I get the point of it, but it does seem excessive ... the 11 is a far longer route but has much less stand time at Chester (5 minutes).